Don't Play The Film & TV Tax Credit Blame Game

Production is flowing out of the home of Hollywood as politicians seek to expand California’s 5-year old $100 million Film and TV tax credit program. Next week, new applicants will be picked by lottery for the upcoming year. Deadline’s Dominic Patten explains while there is lot of blame to go around from the loss of jobs and the sad state of the industry in California, don’t blame Canada.

7 Comments

Sorry • on May 30, 2014 2:12 pm

The studios could easily pay their damned taxes. That would be the right thing to do. Where are Spielberg, Katzenberg, Clooney and Streisand when it’s time to pay taxes to the country that voted for Obama?

whyohwhy • on May 30, 2014 2:12 pm

The tax incentive should be given to relocated drama tv series. They should start by picking all the shows that shoot in Canada. Bring back those jobs to the usa. Better in a different tax incentive state than country. Why does the cw primarily shoot out of the country?

lsb • on May 30, 2014 2:12 pm

“Why does the cw primarily shoot out of the country?”

Could it be cost? Think about it. They are going to go where the lowest cost is, and it sure isn’t Hollywood.

Who in the government can we contact to write and or call to push the tax credit increase forward?

Edddd • on May 30, 2014 2:12 pm

Go to filmworksca.com to get info on who you can write to and sign the supporting petition. Write your Senator to support as well…

Anonymous • on May 30, 2014 2:12 pm

Also, after you sign the Filmworks petition (very important), reach out to your local film commissioner and they can give you some responsibilities if you want to help out.

Thank You!

Guy • on May 30, 2014 2:12 pm

Quite a few founding members of Hollywood were Canadian. Pickford, Warner, Louis B Mayer. Christ Disney’s father was Canadian and had just moved here when Walt was born. Canada isn’t stealing anything. They are simply taking part in what they helped launch. Movies do not belong to one country. Is Sony american? Is Fox? How many movie studios are run by multinational corporations? This is what happens when we feel we are entitled to something that no one OWNS. Movies will always be made in America. Always! But expecting to keep the entire pie when industry, any indisutry, always move sooner or later. Ask Detroit(ok bad example but they only had the one thing going for them. California is California. It sells itself). Canada and America aught to sign an entertainment trade agreement where there is checks and balances in place to make sure no one nation has a monopoly on filmmaking. Lionsgate is Canadian and are they not a major studio? This trade agreement could cap tax incentives or the # of films each studio can take advantage of such systems. James Cameron, biggest director of all time, is Canadian. Canadians and everyone across the world will always come to the US to make it. That will never change. Productions shoot in Canada but until studios themselves start moving there the movie business isn’t going anywhere.